Distillation of carbonaceous material



eb 15 J. D. zlELEY ET AL DISTILLATION 0F CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL Filed Oct. l5. 1920 INVENTOR Jn .Z7- ZzeZey.

ATTORNEY erdrpand A. Ru'dol LM ling or destructive distillation.

Patented Feb. 15, 19.27.,

UN1TED STATES JOHN n. ZIELEY, or NEW Yoan-AND 1,617,691 PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND A. RUDOLF, OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK.

DISTILLATION OF CRBONACEOUS MATERIAL.

Application ala october 15, 1920. serial No. 417,083.

Our invention relates to the production of hydrocarbons of low molecular weight fromk gasoline, benzine, naphtha, and the. like, by

subjecting the rich hydrocarbonaceous material to the extremely high temperaturewhich is necessary to bring about a breaking up of .the molecules and a redistribution of the same to form the desired compounds.

ln the accompanying drawing, we have `illustrated in vertical section, parts being tion may broken away, an illustrative form of apparatus b j which the method of our invene practiced.

In said drawing, 1 indicates the chamber of a vertical type of gas retort producer into which hydrocarbonaceous material such as coal may be introduced through a suitable hopper such as 3. 2 indicates the ash pit which is preferably gas-tight except forthe injector pipes hereinafter referred to. 4 indicates the Napor outlet running to condensers (not shown). 5 indicates a suitable blow-ofi' and exhaust for blow-up gases. 6-6 are the air feeds, and 7-7 the steam injectors. 8 indicates the salt injectors where required, and 9 the heavy condensate return. 110 is a check trap regulating the direction of Any grade of coal may be fed torts through hoppers such as 3, one high in hydrocarbon being preferred. Before charging however, the coal-is saturated with a solution of salt preferably sodium chloride of a predetermined strength. After igniting the coal which may be done by any suitable means, the blowup chamber upon the outlet 5 is closed and air is let into the ash pit in regulated quantity to support combustion suiiiciently to maintain a temperature of say 2500 F. in the lower part of the chamber l. Steam is now turned into the pit through the injectors 7 and this rises through the heated coal and salt. Complicated reactions set in between the hydrocarbons and carbon of the coal, the hydrogen and oxygen of the steam, and the sodium and chlorine of the salt.' Due -to the extremely high temperature in the chamber 1, the sodium chloride and steam are decora into the re-.

ltillation and introducing posed, and enter into complex reactions with the hydrocarbons of the coal so that a colnplete rearrangement of the moleculesJtakes place. The action of the sodium chloride is believed to be catalytic and it .enters temporarily -into the reactions but forms no substantial part of the hydrocarbon vapors which finally pass off through the pipe 4 into the condensers.` The salt remains substantially in the combustion chamber and may be used again for successive distillations.

If the supply of sodium chloride. becomes Aexhausted orif it loses its catal tic power so that the speed of the reaction 1s impeded, a fresh' supply may be introduced from time to time through the pipes 8 leading from tower 8.'

The products which pass to the condenser through the pipe 4 are hydrocarbons which are liquid at ordinary temperatures and pressures, such as gasoline, benzine", naphtha, and the like; The heavy condensate asses by ipe 9 into the trap 10, the fiow being reguated by the trap 10, and also back through the pipe 4 into the combustion chambers in the opposite direction from the outgomg vapors. Y

A powder coal burner may of course-be used and powdered coal may be injected with steam and dsaltI solution relatively regulated as may be found necessary, instead of employing lumps of coal as previously set forth,

and in fact various modifications may be made in the several steps of the process and' in the details of the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. 0

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Process for producln li uid hydrocarbons from coal or other so id ydrocarbonaceous fuel which comprises continuously distilling such material in the presence of sodium chloride, condensing the products of disfrom time to time fresh quantities of sodium chloride as desired to expedite the reaction 2. A process for the production of4 liquid hydrocarbon, comprising imp regIiating a` solid hydrocarbonaceous fuel with a solution of sodium chloride, introduca said hydrocarbonaceous fuel into a cham er, ignitig the fuel, and maintaining combustlonin the chamber ata temperature of approxlmately 2500 degrees by means of air and steam introduced from the bottom of the chamber.

3. In a process for the production of liquid hydrocarbons, comprising impregnating a solid hydrocarbonaceous fuel with a solution of sodium chloride, introducing said hydrocarbonaceous fuel into a chamber, igniting the fuel, and maintaining combustion in the chamber by means of air and steam introduced from the bottom of the chamber, introducing from time to time fresh quantities of sodium chloride as desired to expedite the reaction.

4, A process for the production of liquid hydrocarbons, comprising impregnating coal with a solution of sodium chloride, introducing said coal into a chamber, 4igniting the coal, maintaining combustion in the chamber at a temperature of approximately 2500o F.

uid hydrocarbons, comprising impregnating vcoal With a solution of sodium chloride, in-

troducing said coal into a chamber, igniting the coal, and maintaining combustion in the chamber by means of air introduced from the bottom of the chamber, introducing from time to time fresh quantities of sodium chloride as desired to expedite the reaction, and condensing the vapors evolved from said coal.

In testimony whereof We hereunto aix our signatures.

JOHN D. vZIELEY. FERDINANDl A. RUDOLF. 

